SCP {The SCP That United Them All}

27- In The Shadows

Continuing back to the Gulf of Mexico, the battleship passes through the Atlantic Ocean. Members of the crew keep watch over the containment cells via camera footage. As one of the observers looks away from Mary's cell her shadow moves on its own. Mary instantly grabs hold of her sides, screaming in pain, as she rolls off her bed and across the floor. The shadow slithers out of the cell, makes its way to the main deck, and overboard. As it enters the water it grows and becomes solid, morphing into a sea serpent.

Meanwhile, Rocky sits across from Cain as they play checkers in their cabin.

Rocky looks out the window. "Cain, how come you hate flying but being on a boat you're fine?"

Cain moves one of his pieces. "Because I can swim.. not fly. I would rather drown than fall."

Rocky moves one of his pieces. "What would happen if you were drowning? I mean.. you can't drown the water in your place."

"I would rather not find out." Cain replies jumping three of Rocky's pieces.

Back in the cell, Mary's screams continue as Dr. Clef rushes to check on her. "Mary! What's wrong?"

"My.. insides are.. BURNING!!!" Mary screams through clenched teeth.

Dr. Clef opens the door and picks her up off the floor. As he places her on the bed, he pulls out a syringe and injects the contents into her shoulder. After a few more minutes of screaming, Mary falls slowly asleep and becomes silent.

Dr. Clef then rushes to the main deck only to come face to face with a towering black and red sea serpent. Dr. Clef's eyes narrow and his smile grows. "If you came looking for a fight..." He pulls a remote from his back pocket and hits a button.

The cannons, on the battleship, quickly turn and fire on the serpent, and it falls back into the water.

"... Then it will be short-lived!!" Dr. Clef exclaims.

At the sound of the cannons firing, Rocky and Cain leap up and run outside. 

An extremely loud alarm sounds, red lights flash, and an announcement booms from a loudspeaker. "Code Black, this is not a drill! All personnel prepare for acceleration!"

"What is going on?!" Rocky asks excitedly.

Dr. Clef holds out his hand. "No time to explain. Hang on to something!" He keys up his radio. "FULL AHEAD!"

Rocky and Cain grab hold of a nearby railing as the battleship rockets forward. Dr. Clef presses another button as a massive explosion soon follows where the serpent fell back into the water.

"What was that?!" Cain asks.

"That was a weaponized SRA with a nuclear core. If that thing could change its shape, mass, or physical makeup before it most certainly died in that explosion." Dr. Clef smiles, putting his remote away and keying his radio back up. "Resume normal speed."

The battleship gradually slows until it is cruising at its original speed.

"That.. thing was no doubt linked, in some way, to Mary. I found her riving in pain just before it manifested." Dr. Clef says calmly. "It would be best if we attach a reality anchor to her as soon as possible. Luckily, the captain has an emergency supply on standby."

"Not a weaponized version like that.. right?!" Rocky asks.

Dr. Clef pauses for a moment. "They are just like the collar Abel wears but fitted with an SRA. If it is removed forcefully.. it will explode. Otherwise, it will not detonate."

Rocky steps forward. "What if she is being controlled against her will?!"

"Then the collar will protect her.. perhaps we should fit the children with one each.. just in case." Dr. Clef says, heading up to the bridge.